Locking mechanism for automobiles



' July 3, 1928.

F. N. ROEHRICH LOCKING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 2e, i927 4Sheets-Shes?,

W @ivf/m July 3, 1923.' 1,675,465

F. N. RoEHRxcH LOCKING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 2G, 1927 4ShetS-Shee' 3 July 3, 192s.

F. N. RoEHRlcx-l LOCKING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HQI Filed Jan. 26, 1927 m Dm., Mm w F Patented July31928. y

UNITED STATES 1,675,465 P ATENT OFFICE.

FBAN N. BOEHRICH; OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAH H.LOUD,

F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application led January 2.6, 1927. Serial No. 168,648.

This invention relates to locking mechanism for automobiles; itsprincipal object being to provide simple and efiicient means whereby anessential control element of a car is automatically rende-redinoperative coincidental with the closing of the door after .the driverhas left his seat, which control element is effectively maintained ininoperative condition until the locking element therefor is released bymanual actuation of a suitable key, or other means ot exclusive control.

While locking mechanism embodying the principle ot my invention isapplicable-to any operating or controlling instrumentality ot a motorcar, I prefer to apply it either to the transmission or to the steeringmechanism of the machine.

According to the preferred form of my invention the locking action iseffected through the medium of an electromagnet which is included in anelectric circuit controlled by the joint operation of the seat and doorof the car, consequent upon the natural actions of the driver when he isleaving the machine;

but. in its broad aspect, my invention *comprehends pneumatic or otherpressure instrumentalities which are controllable by the joint operation`ot the seat and door to produce the desired locking effect.

My invention, generally stated, comprises automatically controlledlocking mechanism ot' the character mentioned, embodying novel.

principles of operation, features ot' construction and combinations ot'parts, all of Which will .be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings- Figure l illustrates, in sectional elevation, a portionof an automobile equipped with electrically-controlled locking mechanismembodying one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section, on a larger scale, through the component parts ofthe said mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through one side ofthe body of the carand the dooractuated switch therein, a portion of the partially-opendoor being indicated, as on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the upper part of the transmissionhousing and the contained elements of the locking mechanism, as on theline 4-1 ot Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a. detail of the lock, the locking lever operable thereby, andadjuncts.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the lock and the walls of thetransmission housing, as on the line 6`6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section through the hub (It' the locking lever, as onthe line 7 7 of Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the upper portionof a steering column, steering shaft and Wheel, embodying a modifiedform of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of a portion ot an automobile equippedwith a modified form otl the invention wherein pneumatic controllingdevices are employed.

Fig. 10 is an elevationof the rotary valve and immediate connections,operable through the medium ot' the car seat, for determining theoperation ot' the pneumatic control devices.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section of the said valve and its adjuncts.

Referring to Figs. l to 8, inclusive, of the drawings, 15 designates aseat of an automobile; 16 the hinged door adjacent the steering wheel17, and 18 the shift lever for the transmission gearing. This lever,which is tulcrumed, as at 19, in the transmission housing 20, is adaptedto be automatically locked in neutral position by means ot a suitablelocking device embodying the principle of my invention. This device, inthe form illustrated, includes a locking lever having a latch arm 21which is movable into and out of engagement with a suitably-disposedkeeper on the shift lever, which keeper, in the present instance,forated lug 22 projecting from the shift lever. A spring 23 seated ina'socket in the upper part of the housing and bearing against the latcharm of the locking lever, urges the latch arm to raised or lockingposition. The locking lever is under the influence of a suitable lock24, such as the Yale type, operable by, in the present instance, meansof an appropriate key to swing the latch arm o1 from the keeper againstthe act-ion of the spring 23, thus releasing the shift lever 18. i

The lock construction herein illustrated comprises a cylindrical body 25which is mounted in one of the up-standing walls of the transmissionhousing, and is provided with a key-actuated rotatable barrel 26 withwhich the usual spring-pressed retaining pins 27 engage. The inner endof the barrel comprises a peris formed with a tubular extension 28 inalignment with the keyway of the barrel, which keyway contains alongitudinally slidable ejector rod 29 that is movable into and from theextension. A spring 30 conned within the extension presses the rod 29normally into and lengthwise of the keyway. 1When the key is entered inthe keyway, preparatory to turning the lock barrel, the rod .is bodilypushed back into the extension, against the action of the spring 30, andthereafter when the barrel is turned by the hey and the key manuallyreleased, such spring, expanding, presses the rod sharply forward in amanner to eject t-he key bodily il'rom the lock, thus obviating anyliability of the keys being carelessly left in the lock by the driver ofthe car. The lock barrel 26 is provided at its inner end with aprojecting pin 31 to which and to an adjacent part ot' the housing` isattached a retract-ing spring 32, which tends automatically to returnthe barrel to key-receing position.

The lockirny lever has a hub 33 which is rotatably seatedin a bearingformed in the adjacent wall of the housing, which hub encircles thetubular extension 2S of the lock barrel 26. A cap 34 fast on the outerend of the hub bears against the adjacent wall of the housing andmaintains the locking lever in proper relation to the lock barrel.Extending through-thc wall of the hub and into the path oftheextension28 is a lpin 35,

against which the extension abuts during its rotation with the lockbarrel and'thereby moves the pin 35 and the locking lever in a mannertoV disengage the latch arm of the ylever from the keeper 22 of thc gearshift (lll lever. (See Figs. 5, Gand 7.)

Any other approved form of lock under-k thc exclusive control of thedriverot the car may be employed.

Pivoted to a bracket 36 within the housing 20 is the lower end of alever 37 which is normally swung rearward, by means of a suitable spring38, to position the upper end of the lever under the tail 39 of thelocking lever when the latter is disengaged from the keeper 22, thusrestraining the locking lever in its released position against theaction of the spring 23. This done the, shift lever may be manipulatedby theoperator in the usual manner This locking lever is provided nearits fulcrum with the armature 40 of an electro-magnet 41 supported bythe bracket 36 and included in an electric circuit 42 under the controlof suitable making and breaking devices comprising switches A, B, whichare respectively actuated through the medium of the seat 15 and door 16of the car, as will be hereinafter explained. If, when the shift lever18 is unlocked, the magnet.be energized by the completion of theelectric circuit, the armature, together with the restraining lever 37,will be pulled forward in a manner to free the latter lever from thelocking lever and permit the spring 23 to move the locking lever intoengaging relation with the keeper 22.

The switch A is preferably arranged 'within a casing 43 located belowthe seat. This switch comprises spaced-apart contacts 44 havingappropriate terminals for one of the leads of theelectric circuit, andcomprises also a pivotcd lever 45 having on, but insulated from, onearm, a contact blade 46 which, by proper actuation of the switch lever,is movable into or out of engagement with the contacts in a vmanner tomake or break the circuit. The other arm of the switch lever is jointed,as at 47, to the lower end of a vertically movable rod 48 that eX- tendsthrough suitably-disposed guides 49, 50. The upper end of the rod 48projects above the casing and engages the forward portion of the seatframe, which frame, in the construction illustrated, is hinged at itsrear so as to have capacity for vertical movement. A stout spring 51,encircling the rod 48 between Jthe guide 49 and a collar 52 fixed on therod, tends to maintain the rod, together with the seat, normally raised.When the said rod and seat are thus positioned, the contact blade 46 isengaged with the contacts 44,v thereby electrically bridging the gapbetween the contacts, but when the seat is depressed, by the operatorsWeight thereon, the rod 43 is also depressed in a manner to rock thelever 45 and lift the contact strip from the contacts 44, thus breakingthe circuit between the latter.

The switch B is of the snap or quick make-and-break type. It ispreferably arranged within a casing 53 concealed in the hollow side 54of the car body, adjacent the hinged edgek of the door 16. This switchcomprises two spaced contacts 55 having suitable terminals `for one oftheleads of the electrical circuit 42. A switch lever 56 having acontact strip 57 allixed to but insu-l lated from it, is pivoted in thecasing 53, at .Y

58, so that, by actuation of the lever, the strip may be moved into orout of engagement with the contacts 55 in a manner to make or break thecircuit between such contacts. This lever, which is held normally awayfrom the contacts lby means of a spring 59, is provided with asuitably-disposed cam-shaped projection 60, against which is adapted tobear a by-pass pawl 161 pivoted at 62 on one arm ofa bell-crank 63fulcrumed at 64 in the casing 53. The by-pass ypawl is,VV

provided with a stop lug 65 which isV yieldingly held against theadjacent arm of the bell-crank by means of a. suitable spring 66. Theother arm of the bell-crank is jointed, as at 67, to the inner end of` ahorizontal sliding rod 68 which passes through guides 6.9. 70 in thecasing, and also projects through the jamb at the hinged portion of thedoor so as to be opposed and held by a socket piece 71 on the latterwhen the door is closed. A spring 72 encircling the rod between theguide 69 and a collar 7 3 fixed on the rod tends to press the rodnormally outward toward the door. The co-operative relation of the partsjust described is such that when the car door is swung open the spring72 presses the rod 68 sufficiently rearward to maintain the bell-crank63 with its by-pass pawl 61 away from the switch lever 56 and above thecam projection 60. Hence the switch lever occupies its normal or outwardposition and the electric circuit is broken between the contacts 55.When the door is closed the socket piece 71 bears against the opposingend of the rod 68 and pushes the latter forwardly against the action ofthe spring 72, thereby partially turning the bellcrank and swinging thepawl 6l downward. In its descent the acting end of the paw] bearsagainst the cam projection 60, thus swinging the switch lever forwardand completing the circuit between the contacts 55. The instant the pawl61 passes below the cam projection, the switch lever 56 is snapped backby the action of the spring 59, thereby breaking the circuit between thecontacts 55. I/Vhen the door of the car is again opened the rod 68 isurged outward by the spring 72 and the bell-crank 63 is partially turnedto swing the pawl upward, which pawl rides idly against and past the camprojection and assumes its original position for re-eugagement with suchprojection when the door is again closed.

Assuming a car equipped with my novel locking mechanism has been drivento a parking location and stopped, the transmission is automaticallylocked as follows: TWhen, preparatory to leaving the car, the operatorrises from his seat at the steering wheel, such seat, together with therod 48,

is raised by the expansion of the spring 51,

:- thereby actuating .the switch lever 45 and eifecting the engagementof the contact blade with the contacts 44, thus closing the electriccircuit between the latter. The operator next opens the door 16, thusswinging'the socket piece 71 outward, and permitting the spring 72 toretract the rod 68v and rock theI bell-crank in a manner to position thepawl 61 above the cam projection 60 and forwardly of the switch lever56. Upon the closing of the door, the socket piece 71 presses the rod 68forward, thus rocking the bell-crank in a manner to force the pawl 61 Vagainst and below the cam projection 60, the

switch lever 56thus being successively swung forward against, andsharply retracted by the action of thespring 72. In the forward movementof the switch lever 56 the contact blade thereof closes thev circuitbetween the contacts v55, thereby, since the circuit is closed betweenthe contacts 44 of the seatcontrolled switch A, completing the electriccircuit iny which the electro-magnet is ineluded. The quick retractionof the switch lever 56 when the pawl 61 in its down stroke escapes thecam projection, breaks the circuit. The instant the .circuit iscompleted the magnet 41 is energized,.thereby withdrawing therestraining lever 37 from the locking lever and permitting the latter toengage the keeper' 22, thus locking the gear shift lever, as previouslyexplained. Thereafter the opening or the closing of the door, or thevertical movement of the seat, has no eil'eet on the operation of thelocking lever; and consequently the latter must be released by actuationof the lock by means of a suitable key.

By controlling the electric circuit through the joint operation of theseat and door, as hereinbefore described, there is no liability of theaccidental locking ofthe transmission by the opening andelosing of thedoor while the operator is on his seat at the steering wheel; nor by theoperators rising from his seat while the door is closed. If the operatorwishes temporarily to leave the car with the transmission unlocked, hehas merely to leave the ear door open; but if he desires to lock thetransmission it is incumbent upon him to rise from his seat and thenopen and close the door, the closing of the door being effected after hehas stepped from the car; or, if desired, while he is in the car.

If desired the electric circuit may include two switches under theoperation of both side doors of the car, so that the locking will beeffected by the act of opening and closing either door after theoperator has left his seat.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated ay form of steering wheel lock operable byelectric control devices embodying my invention. In this'n'iodication,the steering wheel 17 is adapted to be connected to or disconnected fromthe steering shaft 74 by a jaw clutch, comprising two complemental jawmembers 75, 76. The member 75 is integral with the hub of the hand wheeland the member 76 is loo slidably mounted, but rotatable with, theVsteering shaft, by means, for example, of a key or feather connection,so as to permit its engagement with or disengagement from the clutchmember 75, as desired. The clutch member 76 isconnected by means of acoupling ring 77 to a sliding collar 78 on the steering shaft. whichcollar is normally depressed by springs 79 interposed between the ring77 and the shouldered upper portion 80 of a stationary cylindricaleasing 82 formed at the upper end ofthe steering column 83. The clutchmember 76 and its adjuncts constitute, in effect, a. locking element.Vhen the collar 78 is depressed by the force of the springs 79. theclutch members are disengaged, and the steering wheel lll Lit)

' mally open shaft. The clutch collar 78 is restrained in raised orlocking position against the action of the sprmgs79, by means of a`lever .37 which is fulcrumed at 85, wlthm the casing f 82 of thesteering column. This restraining lever is provided at its upper endwith a latch head 86 which is automatically pro- 'ected into engagementwith the lower end of the clutch collar 78 when the latter is raised;such lever being moved to restraining position by means of asuitably-disposed spring 38. The lower arm of the restraining lever isprovided with the armature. 40 ofau electro-magnet 41 which is supportedin the casing 82, and is included in an electric circuit having makin@and breaking devices under the control of the seat and door of thecarasin the first described construction. When the electric. circuit 1scompleted by the automatic raising of the seat and the act of openingand closing the door, the magnet is energized, and the restraininglever, by the attraction of the armature` 1s swung'in a direction tofree the clutch collar 7 8. thereby vpermitting the disengagement of thecomplemental clutch jaws.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11, I have shown a modification of my inventionwherein pneumatic, instead of electrical, devices are actuated by thejoint operation of the seat and door, in a manner to effect theautomatic locking of the shift lever of the transmission gearing. In theparticular construction illustrated a bellows 87 is arranged in the sidewall of the body of the car adjacent the hinged portion of the door, themovable leaf 88 of the bellows being maintained norby means of asuitably-disposed spring 89. A sliding rod 68 is interposed between theleaf 88 and the hinged edge of the. door, which rod when the door isclosed forces the .opposing leaf forward in a manner to express theconfined air from the outlet 90 of the bellows. V'Vhcn the car door isopened the leaf 88 resumes its open position, thus recharging'the airlchamber of the bellows and projecting the outer end ofthe rod G8 beyondthe door jamb. The bellows nozzle or outlet 90 is in communication with-a tube 91 leading' to a secondary bellows structure 92 located withinthe transmission housing 20, the movable leaf 92 of the latter bellowsbeing attached to the restraining lever 370 for the-tail 39 of thelocking lever when the latter is in unlocking position'.

The valve is provided at one end' with a crank 97 which is jointed at 98to the lower end of the spring pressed rod 48 that bears against theseat frame'and maintains the latter normally raised. When the seat is inraised position the valve establishes communication between the twobellows, as seen in Fig. 9. If then the door of the car. be opened therestraining lever will remain in engagement with the locking lever tomaintain the latter in unlocking position; but if the door be closed itwill press the rod 68 forward in a manner to close the bellows 87 anddrive the contained air, under pressure, through the tube 91 into thebellows struc ture 92; thereby opening the latter and perforce releasingthe locking lever, whichlatter lever coincidentally engages the v keeper22 on the gear shift lever. The locking lever is actuated to unlockthe-shift lever as in.

the tirs-t described construction. When the seat and the rod 48 aredepressed by the weight of the driver, the valve 93 1s partially turnedthrough the rod and crank connections indicated in order to interruptthe communication between the bellows 87, 92.

Hence the door may be opened or closed i` without affecting the lockingposition of the locking lever; but if such seat be unoccupiedcommunication between the two bellows is established, and the act ofopening and closing the door eEects the transmission of air underpressure to the bellows 92, as hel-einbefore mentioned.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention is characterized bythe provision of instrumentalities which automatically effeet thelocking, or the unlocking, of a control element of an automobilecoincidental with the closing of a door of the car, whichinstrumentalities must be returned to a detinite position by themanipulation of a lock lexclusively controllable by the operatorpreparatory to the driving of the car.

Itis to be'understood that my invention is not limited to the particularexemplifying forms or constructions of mechanisms herein disclosed, asthe same may be variously modified within the principle of the inventionand the scope of the appended claims.

I claiml. In motor vehicle locking mechanism, the combination of alocking member movable intolocking and unlocking positions, means forurging said member normally to one position, a 'lock effective by keyactuation to move said member to the other position, a restrainingelement operable to engage the said member and hold it. in such secondposition, an electric circuit` including an electromagnet which, whenenergized, moves said restraining element to releasing' position,switches included in said circuit, one ot' said switches being open whenthe seat is occupied and being closed when the seat is unoccupied, andthe other switch being a quick make-and-break switch which is operatedwhen the door is opened and closed, motion transmitting devices betweenthe first-named switch and the seat. and motion transmitting devicesbetween the other switch and the door` whereby when the seat isunoccupied and the door is opened and closed the circuit is momentarilycompleted by the joint action of the switches, thus energizing theelectromagnet.

2. In motor vehicle locking mechanism, the combination with an elementadapted to be locked and unlocked, of a key operated lock. a lockingmember normally urged in locking relation to said element, but movableto unlocking posit-ion by key actuation of the lock, a restrainingmember operable to engage the locking member and hold it 1n unlockedposition, an electric circuit, including an electro-magnet which, whenenergized, moves said restraining member to releasing position, switchesincluded in said circuit, and operative connections between the saidswitches and the. seat and a door respectively of the vehicle, wherebywhen said seat is unoccupied and the door is j opened and closed thecirc-uit is completed by the switches, thus energizing theelectromagnet.

3. In motor vehicle locking mechanism, the combination with an elementadapted to be locked and unlocked` of a key o-perated lock. a lockingmember normally urged in locking relation to said element, but movableto unlocking position by key actuation of the loc-k, a restrainingmember operable to engage the locking member and hold it in unlockedposition, 'an electric circuit, including an electro-magnet which, whenenergized, moves said restraining member to releasing position, switchesincluded in said circuit, one of said 'switches being open when the seatis occupiedand being closed when the seat is unoccupied, and the otherswitch being a quick make-and-break switch which is operated whenthedoor is opened and closed, motion transmitting devices between thefirst-named switch and the seat` and motion transmitting devices betweenthe other switch and the door. whereby when the seat is unoccupied andthe door is opened and closed the circuit is momentarily completed bythe joint action of the switches, thus energizing the electro-magnet.

4. In motor vehicle locking mechanism including a vertically-movablenorinally-ra-ised seat, a hinged door, and an operating element adaptedto be locked and unlocked, the combination ot' a key operated lock` alocking member normally urged in locking relation to said element, butmovable. to unlocking position by key actuation of the lock, arestraining member operable to engage the locking member and hold it inunlocked position, an electric circuit` including an electromagnetwhich, when energized, moves said restraining member to .releasingposition, plural switches for said circuit, means between one of saidswitches and the scat normally operative to raise the seat and close thesaid switch, and means whereby another switch is operated to make andbreak the circuit by t-he act ot closing the door.

5. In motor vehicle locking mechanism including a vertically-iiiovablenormallyraised seat, a hinged door. and an operating element adapted tobe locked and unlocked, the combination of a key `operated lock. amember normally urged in locking relation to said element, but movableto unlocking position by key actuation of the lock, a restrainingImember operable to engage the locking member and hold it in unlockedposition, an electric circuit, including an electro-magnet which, whenenergized, moves said restraining member to releasing position, pluralswitches for said circuit. one switch being arranged beneath the saidseat and normally closed and the other being a quick make-and-breakswitch arranged in the side of the car adjacent the said door, meansbetween the first-.named switch and the seat for normally raising theseat and closing the adjacent switch, and an operating member for theother switch adapted to be actuated to make-and-break the circuit by theact ot closing the said door.

6. In motor vehicle locking mechanism, the combination with an elementadapted to be locked and unlocked. of a lock., a locking member normallyurged in locking relation to said element but ymovable to unlockingposition by the operation of the lock, a restraining member ope 'able toengage the said locking member and hold it in unlocked position, andmeans, including connections under the joint control of the seat and adoor of the vehicle, for releasably actuating said restraining memberwhen the seat; is unoccupied and the door is opened and closed.

7. In motor vehicle locking mechanism, the combination with an elementadapted to be locked and unlocked, of a lock, a locking member normallyurged in locking relation to said element but-movable to unlockingposition by the operation of the lock, a, restraining member operable toengage the locking member and hold it in unlocked position, an electriccircuit, including,r an electro-magnet to move said restralnlng memberto releasing positlon, plural swltches for `said circuit, means betweenone of said operable to engage the said member and hold it in suchsecond position, and means, including connections under the jointcontrol" of the seat and a door of the vehicle, for releasably actuatingsaid restraining element when'the seat is unoccupied and the ldoor isopenedand closed.

9. In motor vehicle locking mechanism. the comblnation of a lockingmember movable 1nt0 locking and unlocking positions,

means for urging said member normally to.

one position, a. lock to move said member to the other position, arestraining element operative to engage the .said member and hold it insuch second position, an ,electric circuit,` including an,electro-magnet 4to move said 'restraining element to releasingposition, switches lncludcd in said circult,

and operative connections between the said switches and the seat and adoor, respectively, of the vehicle, whereby when such seat-is unoccupiedand the door is opened and closed the circuit is completed by theswitches and the electro-magnet is energized.

Signed at Jersey City in the county of Hudson and State of New Jerseythis 29th day of December, A. D.'1926.

FRANK N. RoEHRI'oI-i.

